Personal finance for people who want to be great with money — written by the friend who already is.
The Smart Money Dictionary
A living glossary of the terms, tricks, and rules of thumb that quietly shape your money — translated the way a friend would actually explain them.
49 entries and growing.
Contribute at least enough to get the full match. Anything less is walking past free money on the sidewalk.
The invisible wall most points beginners hit after their third exciting sign-up bonus. Chase counts cards you've forgotten about — including store cards, authorized user accounts, and business cards from other issuers.
Overfunding is the mistake. Underfunding is fine — the account can now roll a limited amount into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary if unused.
Nobody is withholding taxes on this income. Set aside 25–30% the day it lands, or you'll be renegotiating with the IRS in April.
The weekly dispatch
The kind of financial advice you'd get from a friend who's already figured it out. No hot takes, no leaderboards, no affiliate hustle.